Hello! Thank you so much for inviting me on your blog today!
Of course!
Can you tell us a little bit about your latest book? When did it come out? Where can we get it?
My
latest project is the third book in a trilogy about a character named Billy
Evans who is
one
of those villains who has no issue with bending any situation to meet his own
usually
criminal ambitions.
The first book in the trilogy, The Crew, was published in 2000 and was, in fact, my first novel
after a series of non-fiction books. Whilst it did really well in paperback, it
went seriously crazy when it was released as an ebook in 2011. In fact it’s
still at #1 on its Amazon chart, having been downloaded over 300,000 times now.
The second book in the series, Top Dog, was released in 2006 and was also a great success. I
actually adapted it for the screen in 2014 and won a few awards with it.
The
third book will be out later this year.
That's fantastic!
Is there anything which prompted this book? Something that inspired you?
Is there anything which prompted this book? Something that inspired you?
Yes, my readers. They have been asking me for years to write
more about the central character and so I thought that the time had come to
bring the story to a suitable conclusion.
Like most of my books, the story was
actually inspired by something I read in a newspaper about a vigilante group.
But that’s all you’re getting!
Oh, yes...spoilers! ;)
In any case, I always find it interesting to see where the muse takes us as writers.
Let me ask a different question.
When did you know you wanted to write? Or has it always been a pastime of yours?
Let me ask a different question.
When did you know you wanted to write? Or has it always been a pastime of yours?
I
actually never set out to be a writer and indeed, never even considered it as
any kind of
career
until I was well into my mid-30’s. Up to that point I’d spent my entire working
life as
a
member of the Royal Air Force and had never written anything seriously other
than reports
for work!
However,
I was working with my brother one day shortly after leaving the military and we
had
an idea for a non-fiction book about the culture of soccer fans and thought it
might be fun
to
give it a shot. So after scribbling some notes, I began to think about how we
might get it
onto
actual bookshelves so I walked into a bookstore, picked up a sports book and
wrote to
the publishers.
They were the only people I ever
approached and thankfully, they liked the idea enough to offer us a publishing deal
and even a decent advance. The book was published in 1996 and was an instant
hit, which kicked off a career as a professional writer which is what I’ve been
doing ever since. Not just non-fiction but fiction and even a few movies.
It was only a few years later that I realized how fortunate I’d been and that it didn’t happen like that for
everyone!
Cool!
Do you have any favorite authors yourself, Dougie?
No,
not really. If I’m reading for relaxation then I’m primarily a non-fiction
reader so the pile
by
my bedside can include anything from military, history to books about
motorcycles.
Reading
fiction falls into the world of work for me and as someone who writes in all
kinds of
different
genres, not just in publishing but for the screen, I tend to immerse myself in
the genre
I’m about to step into.
That said, I’m paranoid about any
accusations of plagiarism and as a consequence, other than the odd motorcycle
magazine I never read anything whilst I’m actually writing.
Do you write in a specific place? Time of day?
When I started out, as the father of three small kids. I got
into the habit of getting up very early and diving into writing until the kids
needed to go to school. That way, if I wasn’t able to get back into the zone
after the school run I had at least accomplished something each day.
That habit has continued to this day
and I’m usually at my laptop by 5:00 every morning. But I can write anywhere as
long as I’m in the mood. Desk, armchair, sofa, train, it doesn’t matter to me.
I’ve been known to write on my laptop whilst stuck in traffic!
I guess it's as good a time as any! ;)
Are there some words you'd like to impart to fellow writers? Any advice?
I
have loads of advice but it’s important to remember that as someone who never
had any
aspirations
to write and who, even after almost 25 years as a professional author/screenwriter
what works for me.
And that’s the key. There is no way
to write, only ways. Some like silence, some like noise, others like solitude,
others like Starbucks. But the fact is that it really doesn’t matter how or
why, just find what works for you and accept that as ‘your’ way.
However, the single most important
piece of advice I ever given to anyone thinking about writing for publication is
that if you can’t take advice or handle criticism, then don’t do it. The harsh
reality is that both are fundamental elements of the creative process and the
best learning tools you’ll have but if you can’t deal with them and take every
negative comment personally, then you’ll fairly quickly find yourself being
plunged into places so dark that you can’t even begin to imagine how you’ll
ever get out.
Thankfully, that’s never happened to
me but I’ve seen others fall foul of it more times than I care to remember.
That's a fair point!
Thank you so much for stopping by to visit us here today at Writing in the Modern Age. It was wonderful having you! :)
Readers, here are the blurbs for the first two books in the series...
THE CREW
APPEARANCES CAN
BE DECEPTIVE - as Paul Jarvis of the National Football Intelligence Unit is
only too well aware. He knows that Billy Evans is no ordinary East End lad made
good. He's also a thug, a villain and a cop killer. Jarvis just hasn't been
able to prove it... Yet.
So when Jarvis discovers that Evans is putting together a hooligan 'Super Crew' to follow England to Italy, he feels sure he can finally put Evans behind bars - if only someone can infiltrate the Crew and get him the proof he needs.
But nothing is ever that simple. The Crew believe Evans is just out for a full-on riot. Jarvis thinks he's trafficking drugs. But Billy Evans is always one step ahead. He has another plan. And it will be catastrophic for everyone concerned.
EXCEPT HIM.
So when Jarvis discovers that Evans is putting together a hooligan 'Super Crew' to follow England to Italy, he feels sure he can finally put Evans behind bars - if only someone can infiltrate the Crew and get him the proof he needs.
But nothing is ever that simple. The Crew believe Evans is just out for a full-on riot. Jarvis thinks he's trafficking drugs. But Billy Evans is always one step ahead. He has another plan. And it will be catastrophic for everyone concerned.
EXCEPT HIM.
Purchase Links:
Universal Reader Link: https://books2read.com/u/47EZVR
TOP DOG
Hooligan gang
leader Billy Evans is above the law. He knows it, and they know it. And when
you regard the law as an irrelevance, all kinds of opportunities can open up
for you. Especially when you begin to exert your increasingly powerful
influence over the back street pubs and clubs of East London.
So when Billy gets the chance to make some serious money very quickly by helping a football club with an insurance scam, he grabs it with both hands.
But he’s about to discover that this time, he's finally pushed his luck too far. And this time it isn't the law he'll have to contend with. It's something far more dangerous.
So when Billy gets the chance to make some serious money very quickly by helping a football club with an insurance scam, he grabs it with both hands.
But he’s about to discover that this time, he's finally pushed his luck too far. And this time it isn't the law he'll have to contend with. It's something far more dangerous.
Purchase Links:
Universal Reader Link: https://books2read.com/u/4j1D5Y
This is the link to the movie: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2626460/
Here is an excerpt from the upcoming book.
In The
Know by
Dougie Brimson
Claire paused for thought but before she
could speak again, the door opened and Julie entered, her face coated in fear.
Billy took her in his arms for a second and held her. As much for his own sake
as hers.
“You
should see him before he goes to theater,” she said tearfully as she pulled
away. “He’ll like that.”
“I’ll
take him,” said Claire. “You stay here for a minute and gather your thoughts,
okay?” Julie nodded in response. “I’ll be back in a second.”
Claire
gestured to the door and with a last glance at Julie, they left the room and
headed toward the cubicle where Hawk lay.
“He’s
got a tube in his throat,” whispered Claire as they walked. “So he won’t be
able to talk. Just remember, the machines are there to keep him comfortable.
There’s nothing to be frightened of.”
“They’ll be along for him in a couple of
minutes, okay?” she hissed. Billy nodded his reply and with a final smile,
Claire pulled open the curtains and led him inside.
The
scene which met him was, thanks to a million films and fly-on-the-wall TV
shows, oddly familiar. A body lay on a bed connected by all kinds of tubes and
cables to machines which were busily beeping and flashing in response to
whatever was being pushed to or from them. The only thing out of place was that
the body wasn’t some anonymous individual, it was his friend Hawk. But whereas
he had feared the worst, as soon as their eyes met Billy found himself
enveloped by a feeling of calm relief as his fears evaporated. His mate was
alive and in the best hands he could be in, and that was all Billy had needed to
know. His job now was to simply be himself.
Hawk
held up his fist and Billy bumped it. “I knew that bloody bike would be
trouble,” he said the second Claire pulled the curtains closed behind her. “You
better not have left me it in your bloody will either. Poxy thing will be on
eBay that night.” Hawk’s eyes smiled up at him and Billy took hold of his hand.
“You know you’re going under the knife, right?” Hawk nodded gently. “Well, I’m
telling you now, you see any bright lights, you tell ‘em to piss off, okay?”
Hawk
smiled again and tried to speak. Billy squeezed his hand again. “Don’t even think
about trying to talk, mate. Whatever it is can wait.”
Hawk
slowly shook his head and frowned. The inference was clear. He released his
hand from Billy’s and held up three fingers.
“Look,
you’ve got to relax,” pleaded Billy. “You can tell me all this shit tomorrow.”
Hawk
frowned and began to get agitated. Billy put his hand on his shoulder to calm
him down. “Okay, okay, ” he said as quietly as he could. “D’you want me to get
the Old Bill in? They’re just outside?” Hawk gently shook his head and once
again, held up his three fingers. ‘Three of them?” asked Billy in a hushed
voice. Hawk nodded then pointed to his face and tapped his cheek. “White lads.’
Hawk shook his head and tapped his face again. “Black?” asked Billy. Hawk
winked then held up one finger. He then moved that to his nose and Billy
couldn’t help but notice an involuntary wince. “One of them smelled of
something?” Hawk shook his head and then thought for a second before clicking
his fingers. Billy frowned. “You clicked his nose? What does that… Oh, you mean
you broke his nose?”
I
got it. Now you just relax, okay? You can fill in the blanks tomorrow.”
The curtains suddenly opened behind him and Billy looked up to
see not just Julie and Claire, but a whole group of people dressed in theater
scrubs. It was obviously time. He took hold of Hawks hand, bent down and
whispered, "I love you, bruv. Don’t you forget it," before standing aside and
letting the medics go to work.
“Come on, let’s get you that cuppa,” said Claire gently.
“No,” said Billy without turning away. “I want to…”
“It’s okay, Billy,” said Julie calmly. “I’ll go with him. Claire
will bring you up once he’s in theater.”
Billy half smiled in response then reached out and took her
hand. “You’re the boss,” he said quietly and then, after a brief embrace, she
turned and followed Hawk as he was wheeled away through another set of doors
and out of sight. Billy stood for a second and stared after them. It had been a
long time since he’d felt so helpless or so empty. Or so choked.
“Mister Evans?”
Billy turned to find one of the policemen staring at him. The
other three close behind. The enemy. The fact that they’d referred to him by
name did not go unnoticed and put Billy immediately on his guard. “What?’ was
the only word he felt able to utter.
Tense!
So, what are readers saying about this book series?
☆☆☆☆☆
"Thoroughly enjoyable read! To
say that I was pleasantly surprised is an understatement. The story
structure, dialogue and plot line are all well presented and flow
smoothly from beginning to the surprising twist at the end. I found
myself putting aside other books I was reading at the time, in order to
find out what happens next. Definitely a page turner." - Thomas Johnson, Amazon
☆☆☆☆☆
"The
Crew is not only an excellent read, full of twists and turns, including
those `just when you think it's all over' moments, but the subject
matter is also very interesting. The novel follows the policeman
ultimately responsible for the investigation and also the hooligan, an
otherwise `normal' bloke with a good job, car and house, who for some
reason feels the need to turn himself into something completely
different at the weekends. Well written book and very enjoyable read." - Wendy Cartmell, Amazon
☆☆☆☆☆
(Audiobook review) " " - JD, Amazon
☆☆☆☆☆
"Bravo! " - Hard2Please, Amazon
Nice!
And the new book sounds like quite a read! We'll be sure to check out this crime thriller series!
Get it now!
Author Bio
Perhaps best known for penning the
multi-award winning feature film Green
Street, former serviceman Dougie Brimson has forged a reputation as one of
the UK’s most diverse writers.
Having enjoyed publishing success
with both non-fiction and fiction as well as on the big screen, his writing
career began in 1996 when, after 18 years service with the RAF, he co-authored
the best-selling non-fiction work, Everywhere
We Go. A book that remains essential reading for anyone with an interest in
the culture of soccer.
A
further 14 books have followed including the best-selling thriller, The Crew -which has
topped the
Amazon sports book
download charts for
almost eight years
following its
publication
in eBook format- and the critically acclaimed comedies, Billy’s Log and Wings of
a Sparrow.
His 16th book, the third volume in
the The Crew/Top Dog trilogy, will be
published in autumn 2019.
Aside from Green
Street, Dougie has two further feature films on his resume, the multi-award
winning urban thriller, We Still Kill The
Old Way and the award winning gang thriller, Top Dog which he adapted
from his own novel.
Perhaps best known for penning the
multi-award winning feature film Green
Street, former serviceman Dougie Brimson has forged a reputation as one of
the UK’s most diverse writers.
Author Links:
Website/Blog: http://www.dougiebrimson.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dougie.brimsonWebsite/Blog: http://www.dougiebrimson.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/dougiebrimson
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Dougie-Brimson/e/B001HMSMVO/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Dougie-Brimson/e/B001HMSMVO/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dougiebrimson/
Dougie's Books:
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